Oe  akron



R. MCCLENATHEN.

MoLmNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 3l. 1922.

1,427,217. Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- H. M CCLENATHEN.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.31. |922.

Patented Aug. 29, i922..

R. MQCLFNA`I'HIEN'.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPucATmN FILED 1m31. 1922.

l Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET 3.

...Mmmm-.Wi

riem" orrlcs.

ROBERT MCCLENATHEN,"F AKRON, OHIO, ASSXGNOR, TO .KELLY-SEEINGFIELD TIRE COMPANY,- Oi' AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

i Monnnve MACHINE.

To ai?. w hom t may concern:

Be it known that l, vltosinrr MOCLEN- ATHEN, a citizen'ot the yUnited States, resid,-l

ing at Akron, in the county oi Summit and State 01' Ohio, have invented certain neu7 and useiful improvements in a Molding Machine, of which the `following is a specification. y y i This invention relates to the art of forining strips ot' moldable material into an end less belt-like form by machine' process, thereafter molding the' same to a predetermined contour while still in continuous length, and linally toseverthe molded stock into gauged lengths and otherwise prepare same 'for its intended service-the 'entire process Abeing effected by semi-automatic machine elements arranged in coacting` relation. n y

While the invention is adapted `to be used for many purposes other than the one chosen in the interest olf' illustrating a prac tical application/oi it yto the production of a specilic and well known article of commerce, the kpresent description, prefers to relate it to the manuit'actureof tire flaps.

ln genera-l, 'this invention embraces cer tain specific improvements in the'molding machine, indicatedgenerally by B`in Fig. i, over those included in my co-pending `application Serial No. 513986 filed -November ett, ie-ei raten-t 1,423,349 of July is, i922. ln addition, it discloses. associated mechanism whereby an operable combination is attained between device for initially' form ing the liep stock, indicated generally by A in Fig.y l, which device that 'formingthe subject oi" Letters V)atent No. 1302660 ot May 6, i919, with element .B, the Molding and vulcanizing machine, anda device indicated generally by C in F l, which device finishes the molded product by cutting it to gauge and performing other operations thereon, all as fully disclosed inmy prior invention forming the subject et' Letters Patent No. l32ll39 oit November' il, i919.

' lleretotore flaps have never been made and finished continuously'. it has always been the practice to lirst 'form the "greenl7 or un* cured material intoy endless laminated bands on such a machine as, for instance, indicated by Zij Fig. l, the material delivered there- ;rom being reelcdon spools and thereafter unreeled into a step-by-step vulcanizer, such, for instance, as that shown' in Patent No. 1179738 of April i8, i916, or, into a con- Specication of Letterslatent. Patented Aug 29, 1922. Application 1ea..anuary21,`1922. serial, No. 533,087. y

tinuously running molding machine, such,

y ment Q Fig. 1;] It being obvious that this intermittent process oi manufacture is crude and unscientiic, and aboveall, wasteful of human ell'ort, hence conducive to high manufacturing costs. 'y

The purpose of this invention having been made apparent, it will be understood that the preferred embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and fully described hereafter, is offered by way of illustration only ,of the principle involved; it being apparent thata wide latitude in the selection of mechanical elements would undoubtedly exist in favor of those skilled in the art to accomplish the desired end without departing trom the scope and spirit of the inventiony as disclosed land further defined in the appended claims.l

f in the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the associated elements, showing the progress of the material throughout its several operations.

Fig. 2, is a partial sectional View through 2f-2, showing the lautomatic compensator stop regulating the flow of the stock from the element A to vulcanizer 13.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged partial sectional elevation through 3*3, showing the means for separating thev drums' of the vulcanizer B to put the chains under tension.

Fig. 4, is a partial front view of the top of either of the automatic compensator stops, showing` the stock roller. n

r-Fig. 5, is a partial end elevation through 5e-5, showing part of the vulcanizer drive gearfand its automatically operated clutch.

Fig. 6, is a side elevation through 6-6, showing a'portionot theelement C with its automatically operated clutch and the relation theretool the automatic compensat-or stop regulating the How of the stock from the element B to the finisher 0.

p Fig. 7, is a general cross section through the l'lap, as it is formed by A Fig.` 8, is' a'general cross section through the flap, as it is linally molded by 13. l

Fig. 9is iragmental section through the periphery of one of the molding drums, showing the molding action of the chain linkage on the flap confined within a groove of the drum.

Fig. 10, is a sectional elevation looking on the geared end of the flap pulling device between B and 0.

Proceeding with the detailed description in the order of progress of the stock from its formation by A to its finished state through C The stock having been mechanically formed from rubberized fabric into a beltlike strip 10 by the flap maker A, (the operation of which is fully disclosed in Batent No. 1302660) passes through a device interposed between A and B Said device lis termed an automatic compensator stop and automatically stops element B when same has drawn up all the stock that has been prepared by A, thus avoiding the breaking of the flap when shortage occurs. The flap stock is threaded progressively over and under the vulcanizer drums of B and confined therein by the circulating pressure chains (all as more fully hereafter described). The revolving drums deliver the molded and vulcanized stock to the element C (disclosed in Patent No. 1321139) through a second and similar compensator to that above described and which has a like functional relation as between the elements B and C; that is, when C has exhausted the excess prepared stock, that element is automatically stopped.

At this point it is explained that the ideal condition of operation of A, B and C in combination, would be to rate their respective output capacities equally; that is, element A to produce at exactly the drawing-in rate of B, and C to finish at the same rate. Now this condition cannot be met in practice for several reasons; chief among which is that the element A is not capable of uninterruptedly supplying formed flap, for the reason that the various plies of stock entering into the fabrication of the laminated structure must be spliced end to end as their lengths' become exhausted. This splicing operation, of course, requires that the machine A be momentarily stoppedgkthe period depending upon the dexterity of the splicing operator. It is thereforeapparent that continuous flow of stock at a uniformly reliable rate between A and B cannot be expected, and that, if the stock were led direct into the continuously running vulcanizer B, the stoppage of A would result in the flap being broken unless B were quickly stopped. Also, considering the delivery of the vul canized stock to C after its passage through B, it will be appreciated that the intermittent, though brief interruption in the drawing-in rate of stock by C, due to the nature of its operations, (all as set forth in my Patent 1321139) would cause breakage of the stock between B and (l. Now, to fully meet the above conditions, my associated mechanism permits each element, A, B and C, to be independently driven, and in order that each do its own work as far as possible without compromising the normal running of the other two, or be aected by their irregularities, this invention associates the progress of each with the other by interposing a compensator device between each, whereby interruptions or irregularities in their respective productions over a reasonable length of time may be reconciled. But if the interruption or irregularity be considerable on the part of any one, the compensator will automatically stopv such of them as necessary to prevent injurious consequences. Also, the complemental function of the same safety device again automatically sets into motion the element previously rendered inoperative, when the occasion for interruption has passed.

Automatic compensator 'stop between A and B The flap stock 10, from A in its path to B, is passed under a roller 11 suitably journaled in a bracket fixed to the frame 12 which is in turn firmly anchored to the floor between A and B. From roller 11 the stock passes upward and over the floating roller 13, thence down and under another fixed roller 14, a counterpart of 11.

The Heating roller 13 is journaled in a slidable carriage 15 retained within guides 16 on either leg of support 12 (see Fig. t), said carriage being counterbalanced lto re sist the pull-down exerted by the stock 10 when it is being drawn into B under normal conditions and when being produced by the machine A fast enough to supply B The counter-balance weight 17 exerting its influence on 15 by a rope 18 passing over a sheave 19 at the top of support 12. Projecting from carriagel is a stop arm 20 having a bored extremity slidably engaging the vertical clutch rod element 21 which is a part of the positive stop system for B.

The rod 21 is slidable vertically within restricted limits and has its top slidably retained within a suitable guide 22; its lower end engaging the free end of a rocker arm 23 which is keyed to rocker shaft 24 running close to the floor line across the front of B and transmitting rotation to a second rocker shaft 25 through bevel gearing 26 (see Figs. 1, 2, 5). At the extremity of 25 is a keyed-on rocker arm 27 functioning as a clutch shifter to operate clutch 28 on one of the gears of the train 29 operating 7 through the agency of a continuously running motor 30. It thus being apparent that the operation of B is controlled by inea/,civ

theater@ mentioned clutch mechanism, :u

itsel' regulated by the l`behavior of the slid-` gaged by arinQG within the extreme limitsl of that ineinbers travel and bvl reason thereof, to inove'Ql` vertically up orv down,

as the c asernay be,-tothrow in and out the clutch on 3, as follows: l

ln Fig. 2 the carriage l5, with stoparin 20, is shown in full lines as at the top oit the slide, which means that a considerable pois tion of excess stock 10 is available within the compensator andthat the clutch is in on E and the arm' 23 in thehigh or in position, and A and"ll working continuously and in step. vNow assuine that il suddenly stops, as 'for ay splicing,` operation, it will be seen that B continues to draw on the excess stock l() within the compensan tor at thev expense of gradually ezfzl'iausting it and consequently pullirwy down the carriage 15 within lthe travel niarlred Compensation range 2. It the suspension of A is continued, the carriage will be drawn all the way to its bottom range, until, as indicated in dotted lines, arni 2O contacts with collar 32, whereby a further inoveinent presses rod 2l downwardly depressing to its low or ott position whereby the clutch 28 on B is 'thrown out andthat ineinber immediately stopped. ,This position, clutch out and stock exhausted, assuines that bothB and are idle. lf now A againstarts producingstock the excess will be .pulled up within the compensator by the action of the counterweight 17, B not being affected by this action until the stop arm 20 in its upward course inalces contact with the upper collar 3l whereby the rod 2l litts arni 23 and necessarily throws B into gear, all as previously explained. Automatic compensator stop between E 1 and 0.77. n

without repetition ot description I(see Fig( Attention is in-` 6, related toFig. 2). vited to lower rod guide 33 for rou 2l, common to both compensator elenients.-

A The principal distinction cnisting'in the compensator between n and 3, troni that now treateddbetween B and (3, is

that-the first mentioned operates to control l whereas the latter controls C only;

ln lliii. (l the carriage l5 is the top,

`indicating that the maximum excess oif stock l0, being now the vulcanized `flap from B, is accumulated and that B is in operation and likewise 0. The lower end of rod 21 here 'terminates in Contact with the end of the longer 'arin ot'bell rank lever 34. iournaled at 35 on apart ot the traine oi'C, and having a clutch end Stadapted to vshift a suitable clutch 3"? on one of the gears oif a train 38 operating C through the agency of `continuo'usly running,v rno- As the detail operation of element C is not part of this invention, atte tion is rected to the patent relative thereto,r l\lo 13521139; but, in view of the tact that certain minor modifications to the driving gear of said patented inechanisni are deenied desirable to relate it tothe control the autoinatic stop oit' rny present inventionry this disclosure includes, in 6, the small changes desired. All. shait 4:0 which is directly controlled by the yclutch 37 represents the power transinfitting;` ineniber which drives the entire device C @n shait i0 is a pulley on which a belt l2 operates to drive the punching end d3 et 0, Shaft l0 terniinates in an. enlarged sleeve pcA tion dei adjacent il.y Slidably keyed within le is the terminus oftthe n in shaft 45 extended toward the rnain poi 5l and driving 'alteredn Frein this description it is obvious that when clutch 37 is out the niotor 39 may' run continuously, `yet the entire C device, including its component punch ineinber d3, will become inoperative.

' Again referring to G and assuming that E stops producing flap stock, it is apparent that C will continue to operate and yexhaust the excess within the coinpensator until the arin 2O depresses collar 32, thus throwingv out clutch 37 and stopping;a C altogether. @nce stopped, C reinains inoperativeuntil B starts and accumulates enough excess stock within 'the cornpensator to causey the clutch of C to be thrown in by the upward travel oi l5 and that machine set in motion again.

iloZrZcr and nalaat/ricer 3.

rlhe vul'canizer l comprises a pair ot hollow, spaced-apart diuins di?, l rranged to be internally heated by any lwell known method und `revoluhly mounted in parallel relation, one above".the other, and driif'en at the saine speed in one direction by the gear train previously cescribed. rlhe outer ,circuiniterences of drunis i7 are grooved at d8 (see Fig. 9), said grooves being alined one above the other when the drums are aX- ially positioned. These grooves are shaped to impart the desired cross sectional form to the flap stock 10 when said stock is coniined and pressed therein by the articulated molding members 49 which are arranged as endless belts, one ot which circulates within each of a pair of alined grooves of the two drums 47 (see Figs. 1-29). Fig. l shows the top view of B having all the molding members 49 positioned.

As the flap requires definite pressure to mold it as it passes over the heated drums and becomes gradually vulcanized within grooves 48, provision has been made tor er;- erting uniform and selective pressures by members 49. To attain this (see Fig. 3) the lower drum journal boxes 50 have been slidably mounted within guides on the end standards 5l, whereby vertical adjustment may be had by means ot substantial screws 52; one end operating directly upon 50, the

other being revolubly anchored below the upper drum bearings. Rotation of 52 is effected by means of a conventional worn and worm wheel `gear manipulated by suitable transmission from hand wheels disposed at either end of the machine; said journal moving gear being cross connected (see Fig. l) whereby parallel motion may be imparted to both journals 50 by turning either hand Wheel. This transmission gearing, being obvious from the description drawings, is not described in detail and is indicated generally by numeral 53 in Figs. l and 3.

Flap pull-oat gef/.r on 3.

1n View oi the tendency ot the flap stock to stick to the groove 48 at the point where it is desired to pull it out from the machine 13, and recognizing the desirability ot' relieving the pull-in mechanism oi"- C from the burden and strain of separating the flap from the groove, a. pull-out device (see Figs. 1--6 and 10) has been provided. This device consists oiV a air of rollers 54 mounted on a horizontal y slidable carriage 55, the carriaoe being mounted on a series o1? three vertically alined horizontal shafts parallel with, and extending across the tace of the machine 13. The lower shaft 56 is merely a guide rod steadying the carriage; also the middle shaft 5T serves a similar purpose except that it also serves as an axle on which lower roller 54 is slidably mounted. The upper sha-itt 5S is a power shaft rotated at such a speed by belt drive 59 from the that the rollers 54 will draw out the flap at the rate of production -oi' 13. Thetop roller 54 is slidably 1Keyed to shaft 5S at 60 and rotates therewith. Rollers 54 are made to rotate together at the same speed by means of intermeshing gears 61. i

1t is thus apparent that the carriage 55 may be positioned at will along the face of the machineB for the purpose of drawing out the flap at any desired groove before it has run the full course of all the grooves. 1t here being noted that the stock is led into the B element in the first grooves, just as it is delivered from A, and travels pro..- gressively from groove to groove toward the C end of 13. In the event of having a quick curing or special flap to make, it may be desirable to curtail its passage through B by pulling it out before the full sequence is completed, in which event carriage is placed at the a propriate point and the free end of the ap 10 fed within the rollers 54, from whence it passes direct to C and, if desired, over asuitable internfiediate` guide (not shown in the draw- 1n the drawing. Fig. l, the formed flap coming out of B and leading through the pull-out rollers int-o C has been shown,

tor simplicity of illustration, as of the same projected width as the green Hat stock formed by A 1n reality the stock at the point first mentioned would appear as in Fig. 8, it being noted that, onceformed and vulcanized into V-shape, its contour will not be permanently affected by reason of being momentarily flattened out in passing through rollers 54.

General operation.

The operation of the machine having been made apparent to those skilled in the art by the foregoing, it remains only to explain several procedural or selective phases in the actual running of the machine in full or iartial combination with the component elements.

The desideratum in forming a tire iiap the curing is that it be delivered with a cross sectional set generally in agreement with that part of the inner tube it protects, as also with a diametrical contour approximating that of the rim upon which it is to be used. The cross sectional set is that imparted by the grooves 48 with their coacting pressure members 49. The diametrical contour being, of course, that of the diameter of the grooved drums. In order that the diametrical shape of the flap may be preserved, it is particularly noted that there is no tension put upon the stock between drum and drum; the stock is merely frictionally pressed within the grooves over their semicircumference by the circulating chain members and drawn in, and progressively from, the A end of B towards its C end by that action alone. 1n threading in they end of the stock made by A the Yprocess is as described in my reviously mentioned application, Serial i o. 513986; lthat is, the stock is successively threaded into each groove ot each drum under the molding chains then crossed over Within the clearof the rcharacter described, comprising revo-v `stock assit progresses toward the C end,

and Without material creeping Within the Zones of pressure of the molding chains, Will,

never pull on its length between drum and drum-thereby never destroying the desired diametrical contour.

In Fig. 1 the molding chains 49 are shown close together, but in iig. 9 they yarefillustrated as in more usual spacing. kWhen it is understood that the flap may be talrenfoii at any groove before running its full course, the open spacing of the groovesy and chains Will present the advantage of ample'clearance for the lapto be drawn out bet lieen any two moving chains, this spacing, of course, being ak matter ot choice depending 'upon the manner of operation and character of the stock run. y

It is apparent that the ,A and C devices inay be used in combination With Il at the expense of eliminating one or bothv of the compensators, but this expedient would be dang-erousto` the `product and require great vigilance on" the rpart of several operators Who Wouldy be required to closely control each machine and constantly start-"and stop same to relate the irregularity of operation of any one to the other two.

If desired to runuB in combination with either A or C separately, with the coinpensator interposed, that partial. combined operation could be arranged to effet a great saving over rthe machines of the .prior art.

' `In order to conserve the heat Within the vuleanizer B, so that curing may be yeffected inthe Hap as itcrosses over troni drum to drum, the entire devic'eis usually insulated by a suitable heat retaining casing, generally indicated by 62 in 2.

kFrom this specification it Will be appreciatedthat kmy improved molding and vul- ,canizing machine, ofitself, but moreparticularly in its preferred combination relation, represents a distinct and valuable addition to the art, andone' which may be practiced through a Vgreat variety ofmechanical adaptations to the. purpose Without departing roi'nthe basic conception as hereafter defined in the claims.y

I claim e n y l 1.A molding and .vuleanizing machine lubly vassociated. vulcanizer drums having alined grooves, endless pressure members conformable to and coacting With said grooves, and r means'for exerting'selective tension on the 'pressure members,

2. A molding and vulcanizing machine of the character described, comprising revo# lubly associated vulcanizer drums having alined grooves, endless pressure members ,conformable t from the drums.

conformable to and coactiiig with said grooves, and means ior exerting selective tension on the pressure members Without inducing corresponding tension in the slaclr portion ot the stock Within the vulcanizer.

3. A molding and vulcaiiizing machine of the character described, comprising revolubly associated vulcanizer drums having alined grooves, a heat insulating casing over said machine, endless pressure members'contormable to and coacting with said grooves,

and means for exerting tension on the pressure members by `separating the grooved drums axially in parallelism.

4. A molding and vulcani/Zing machine or the character described, comprising revo- 'liibly associated vulcanizer drums alined grooves, endless pressure members conformable to and coacting With said grooves,'and means for tensioning said pressure members, said means operating siiiiultaneously on the bearings of one drum to slidably separate it from the other.

, 5. A molding and vulcanizing machine of the character described, comprising revolubly associated vulcanizer drums having alined grooves, endless pressure members conformabler to and coacting With said grooves, means :tor exerting selective tension on the pressure members, kand a stoclr pull-out device operably associatedtherewith.k f l 6. A molding and vulcaniaing machine of the character described, comprising revolubly associated vulcanizer drums having alined grooves, endless pressure members and coacting with said i'or selectively tensioning groovesy means ysaid pressure members simultaneously, and

a. stock piillout device associated With said machine, said device comprising friction rollers adapted to" grasp and pull the steek 7. fr molding and vulcanizing machine of `the character described, comprising revolubly associated vulcaniaer drums having alined grooves, endless pressure members yconformable to and coa'cting With said grooves, and a stoclr pull-out [device comprising `friction rollers, said rollers being ro-' tated by means in synchronous relation with the production rate of stock 'through the machine, V

' 8. A molding and vulcanizing machine of the character described, comprising re'voliibly associated vulc'anizer drumsv having grooves, endlesspressure members contormable to and coacting With each set vof grooves, and a stoel; pull-out device adapted yto Withdran7 vulcanized stock from the machine at the rate oi? production, said device being selectively positionable and operable at any desired location along the length of said vulcanizer machine.

9. In a device 'of the character described the combination With adevice A for forming and supplying a vulcanizable stoclr member to a vulcanizer B, of a device B for receiving the stock from A and molding and vulcanizing same, and means interposed between A and B .vhereby B is controlled automatically by the amount of surplus stock between A and B as affected by the drawing-in rate of B 10. In a device of the character described the combination with a device B for molding and vulcanizing a' stock member, of a device C adapted to perform further operations on the stock drawn therein from B, and means interposed between B and C whereby C is controlled automatically by the amount of surplus stock between B and C as affected by the drawing-in rate of C 11. In a device of the character described the combination With a stock making device A, an intermediate stocl moldingand vulcanizing device B receiving stock from A, a final operation device C receiving stock from B, of means interposedy between A and B and B and C, respectively, said means automa .iically controlling the operation of B and C as affected by their respective drawing-in rates.

12. In a device of the character described the combination With a stock making device A, an intermediate stock molding and vulcanizing device B receiving stoclr from A, a final operation device C receiving stock from B, of independent means interposed between A and B and B and C, respectivelyl` said respective independent means automatically and disassociatedly controlling` the operation of B and C as self-affected by their respective drawing-in rates.

13. In a device of the character described the combination with a device A for forming and supplying a vulcanizable stock mem,- ber to a vulcanizer B. of a device B for receiving the stock fromA and molding and vulcanizing same, and a stock compensator means interposed between A and B, said compensator having floating means therein for compensating and uniformly tensioning a stock surplus Within predetermined limits, and other means for automatically stopping` device B when the surplus stock becomes exhausted and again starting B When a .predetermined surplus is acquired.

14. In a device of the character described the combination With a device B for molding and vulcanizing a stock member, of a `device C adapted to perform further operations on the stock drawn therein from B, and a stock compensator means interlaarbi? posed between B and C, said compensator having floating means therein for compensating and uniformly tensioning a stock surplus Within predetermined limits, and

other means for automatically stopping device C when the surplus stock lbecomes exhausted and again starting C When a predetermined 'surplus .is acquired. n

15. Ina device of the character described the combination With a stock making device A, and intermediate stock. molding and vulcanizing device B receiving stock from A, a final operation device C receiving stock from B, of independent stock conipensatormeans interposed between A and B and B and C, respectively, said means having floating excess stock compensators therein adapted to hold a variable stoclr excess under uniform tension .Within predetermined limits, and other means for automatically stopping the respective devices upon which they operate When stock excess has become exhausted and thereafter automatically starting said respective devices when a predetermined excess is accumulated.

16. Ina device of the character described the combination With a device B comprising a rotary typemolder and vulcanizer having grooved drums and endless pressure members coacting with complemental registers in the drum members and adapted to draw in a stock article of indefinite length direct from a source ofsupply and to expel same from a different part of the machine B from the drawing-in part in a molded and vulcanized state, of an automatic compensator and stop device adapted to positively control the operation of the said device B as affected by the supply of stock available, substantially as described.v l

17. In a device of the character described the combination With a device B comprising a rotary type molder and vulcanizer having grooved drums and endless lpressure members coacting with complemental registers in the drum members and adapted to draw in a stock article of indefinite length direct from a source of supply and to expel same from a different part of the machine B from the drawing-in part in a molded and vvulcanized state, of a device C associated with B and adapted to perform a further operation on the stoclr from B, and an automatic compensator and stop device adapted to positively control the opera- ROBERT McCLENATHEN. 

